I write to implore you to revaluate cuts in funding for NCCAT (North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching).
I attended an NCCAT session several years ago, and I am about to attend another session in two weeks.
I have been telling other teachers at my school how excited I am about the session I am about to attend because it is all about current brain research and understanding the factors that affect children's learning. As a reading specialist who works with children who are reading below grade level, what could be more relevant to my job? I cannot wait to find out new ways to reach my students, draw on their strengths, and address their needs. I may never again have an opportunity to hear from experts in the field and to have uninterrupted time to learn about this subject and examine how I might change my teaching practices in light of what I learn.
Every session that NCCAT offers provides this same type of job-critical information/inspiration, so I cannot tell you how critical NCCAT's offerings are to the educators of our state.
Please plan to continue backing NCCAT as it supports our most valuable resource—our children (and the teachers who are developing their minds).